Apollo Group said Monday that its accrediting body was considering placing the company's University of Phoenix subsidiary on probation because of alleged deficiencies involving its administrative structure and governance. Shares of the for-profit education company dropped 4 percent.

Here's some of what will shape the week ahead on Wall Street: BlackBerry-maker RIMM will make a sour report; homebuilder earnings will be up and down; University of Phoenix grades itself; and American Greetings gets a condolence card. Oh, and watch out for window dressing!

On Monday, the stock market will take the day off to shake the confetti out of its hair. But on Tuesday, it'll be back to business as usual on Wall Street. Here are some of the items that will shape the first trading week of 2012.

The for-profit education industry has grown rapidly for the past decade on the backs of the most vulnerable members of society. But now, with the Department of Education on track to clamp down on abuses, and the Senate planning hearings, it looks like the party may be ending.